Underground Sprinkler Specialist

[Dean1953]

I have a house near Bosang but l have lived in the U.S. for the last 2 years.  Before leaving LOS, I put a sprinkler system in but it had to be turned on manually, as I didn't have a timer.  About 8 months later, I had to go to LOS for a week and brought with me a Hunter ICC timer.   The Thai electrician that I hired put it in but could not get it to work.  Later on, a thai friend found an electrician that worked at one of the universities finish the job.   It ran but ran considerably longer than the set time and the water pump fried.  I mentioned this to a fellow board member and he bought and installed a new pump for me and adjusted the sprinkler heads and set the timer.  My wife, who is staying at the house for a few months, said the system is staying on longer than the set time and was afraid the new pump would be fried.  She now waters manually, while I try to figure this out.  I have contacted Hunter about the problem but haven't heard back from them yet.  Its possible that the Hunter timer was nver hooked up proberly or (less likely) that the timer wasn't set right.   Does anyone know of a person/company that works on sprinkler systems that could check mine out ?   Thanks!

[lannarebirth]

Is your timer 220 volts?

[jdinasia]

Is your timer 220 volts?

The same as my first thought ... bringing in US electrical devices (110-120) into a country using 220 .... ouch

[Dellboy218]

As has been mentioned, check working voltage but also check current handling capaicty against that of the pump you are using.

[Dean1953]

I've brought enough electronic devises from the U.S. that I've had to take to an electronics center after mistakenly plugged them into the wall socket directly (without plugging them into a converter first) that I did look on Ebay until I found a Hunter timer that runs on 220 V (I'm not sure of the hz, whether its 50 or 60 Hz but will find out from a Hunter customer service center rep). The timer powers up, but runs longer than the correct setting. If it turns out that the hz is the wrong one for Thailand, I'll take or send it to Hunter in Thailand (Bangkok) and have it re-wired if possible or just buy an imported Rainbird or Hunter timer thats made for Thailand.

[xen]

Dean,

Sorry if it sounds patronizing but has it been programed right. Did you get a manual and follow the instructions? If you haven't the manual then you can usually download a manual from their website, I have downloaded manuals from the Irritrol site so i guess Hunter would be the same .I Know a lot of people think they can programme a controller by trial and error method but that is often when you have problems.( And that is why most controllers have a padlock lug on the box.). I usually photocopy the manual, laminate it and leave it with the "as built" irrigation layout plans next to the controller and file the original manual somewhere else offsite and safe.

Also power supply disruptions & fluctations can upset the controller . Perhaps a surge protector may be a good investment.

[samuijimmy]

Dean,

Also power supply disruptions & fluctuations can upset the controller . Perhaps a surge protector may be a good investment.

I would certainly agree with this.......perhaps even a voltage regulator, here in Thailand.....

I've seen controllers both Irritol & Hunter timers fried even in the " Great White North" in electrical / Thunderstorms storms !

I used to install both, generally Hunter was more straight forward to set up.... Hard to say why you would be having difficulty, unless the main board has been fried... or partly so...... The obvious question of voltage you already know......and have sorted....

One assumes you have the 9 volt battery installed & checked it still has a charge (should last a year or more)? That should prevent it from losing the program you set up..... also that the valves are opening & closing correctly & there are no breaks/cuts in the line going to them, which may cause a "short"....

Also, the slightest bit of grit or slim in the valve(s) could screw up the shut off valve(s)... (The thing with two wires coming out of the valve shut off, it should unscrew from the valve, its self, are they screwed tightly& not over tightened? a quarter turn should turn on the system manualy)

You may need to take apart the valve casing (very carefully) and clean.... being very careful not to screw up the gasket or rubber membrane inside..... 10 or 12 screws on the valve casing....

One assumes you have a good filter before any water enters the pipes? The filters should be cleaned out regularly .....

Also is it grounded?

I'll think about this a bit more, it's been over three years since retiring from doing this stuff, so the brain getting a little rusty!

PM me if you want.... some pictures of your valves could be useful....

Edited November 19, 2010 by samuijimmy

[Dean1953]

Xen, no offense taken.   When I moved to the U.S. 2 years ago, I had finished the sprinkler system but had no timer, so a thai friend of mine who lived next door came over and turned it on manually.   While in the U.S., I checked Ebay for 220 Volt timers.  The one that I bought was the only one that I ran across.  When I came back to LOS for a week in March, 2009, I had a thai electrician (that had put in the sprinkler system) install it but he could not get it to work.    I left and several months later, my thai friend got a friend of her nephew, who worked a one of the universities  and taught electrical engineering, to finish the job.   There are instructions on the inside of the Hunter box on setting it but I didn't leave the instructions for wiring it (and as the instructions would have been in english, I 'm not sure that they would have done any good).  The system worked but never kept the original settings and after a few months, the water pump burned out.   I do need to get it going again by the coming hot season and working properly, so the new pump doesn't burn out.   Sammujimmy, I had my sister send me all the parts (except PVC pipe) from the U.S. and, after looking at various designs on the internet and reading about sprinkler systems, I thought I had the right products sent, but I don't remember any filter and nothing has been cleaned or taken apart in the system since it was installed.   It does work manually, so I'm not sure why it would not work properly if set properly.  I plan on getting from Hunter the instruction manual and I'm pretty sure that I will come back to thailand in late january for 3 weeks to see my wife and 3 year old son.  Hopefully, I can sort it out then and I will take  you up on the offer to PM you if I can't figure it out.   Thanks for all the replies. 

[samuijimmy]

Xen, no offense taken. When I moved to the U.S. 2 years ago, I had finished the sprinkler system but had no timer, so a thai friend of mine who lived next door came over and turned it on manually. While in the U.S., I checked Ebay for 220 Volt timers. The one that I bought was the only one that I ran across. When I came back to LOS for a week in March, 2009, I had a thai electrician (that had put in the sprinkler system) install it but he could not get it to work. I left and several months later, my thai friend got a friend of her nephew, who worked a one of the universities and taught electrical engineering, to finish the job. There are instructions on the inside of the Hunter box on setting it but I didn't leave the instructions for wiring it (and as the instructions would have been in english, I 'm not sure that they would have done any good). The system worked but never kept the original settings and after a few months, the water pump burned out. I do need to get it going again by the coming hot season and working properly, so the new pump doesn't burn out. Sammujimmy, I had my sister send me all the parts (except PVC pipe) from the U.S. and, after looking at various designs on the internet and reading about sprinkler systems, I thought I had the right products sent, but I don't remember any filter and nothing has been cleaned or taken apart in the system since it was installed. It does work manually, so I'm not sure why it would not work properly if set properly. I plan on getting from Hunter the instruction manual and I'm pretty sure that I will come back to thailand in late january for 3 weeks to see my wife and 3 year old son. Hopefully, I can sort it out then and I will take you up on the offer to PM you if I can't figure it out. Thanks for all the replies.

Dean

I thought about this more today, I suspect the timer may be OK & not the problem.... but more the shut off valve assembly, where the water enters the pipes to area to be irrigated .....there should be a valve assembly, probably grey, usually with a black thingy about 1.5 inches long by about 3/4" around, that screws in & should have two wires coming out of it...) .... This is what can cause things not so shut off, until the "offending" bit of grit on perhaps slim clears... This is why you need a fine filter at the start of the system, although from my experience here, slim seems to build up in the pipes.......

Assuming you are using pulsating or rotary sprinklers, you are less lightly to have blockages after the valve.... If you plan on Micro jet sprays, these can plug easily too....

If you need more water we have too much here on Samui at the moment!!!

[xen]

Xen, no offense taken. When I moved to the U.S. 2 years ago, I had finished the sprinkler system but had no timer, so a thai friend of mine who lived next door came over and turned it on manually. While in the U.S., I checked Ebay for 220 Volt timers. The one that I bought was the only one that I ran across. When I came back to LOS for a week in March, 2009, I had a thai electrician (that had put in the sprinkler system) install it but he could not get it to work. I left and several months later, my thai friend got a friend of her nephew, who worked a one of the universities and taught electrical engineering, to finish the job. There are instructions on the inside of the Hunter box on setting it but I didn't leave the instructions for wiring it (and as the instructions would have been in english, I 'm not sure that they would have done any good). The system worked but never kept the original settings and after a few months, the water pump burned out. I do need to get it going again by the coming hot season and working properly, so the new pump doesn't burn out. Sammujimmy, I had my sister send me all the parts (except PVC pipe) from the U.S. and, after looking at various designs on the internet and reading about sprinkler systems, I thought I had the right products sent, but I don't remember any filter and nothing has been cleaned or taken apart in the system since it was installed. It does work manually, so I'm not sure why it would not work properly if set properly. I plan on getting from Hunter the instruction manual and I'm pretty sure that I will come back to thailand in late january for 3 weeks to see my wife and 3 year old son. Hopefully, I can sort it out then and I will take you up on the offer to PM you if I can't figure it out. Thanks for all the replies.

Dean

I thought about this more today, I suspect the timer may be OK & not the problem.... but more the shut off valve assembly, where the water enters the pipes to area to be irrigated .....there should be a valve assembly, probably grey, usually with a black thingy about 1.5 inches long by about 3/4" around, that screws in & should have two wires coming out of it...) .... This is what can cause things not so shut off, until the "offending" bit of grit on perhaps slim clears... This is why you need a fine filter at the start of the system, although from my experience here, slim seems to build up in the pipes.......

Assuming you are using pulsating or rotary sprinklers, you are less lightly to have blockages after the valve.... If you plan on Micro jet sprays, these can plug easily too....

If you need more water we have too much here on Samui at the moment!!!

It's funny but whilst stuck in traffic coming home last night i was thinking that I would agree entirely with Samuijimmy about the problem being with the valves or what we call solenoids . Just a fine piece of dirt can cause them not to operate properly and not turn off . A filter is a good idea for a system .

With the manuals , i have seen so many ways of programming a controller depending on the model of the controller . If you are programming them all the time you may not need one but for all us other mortals, use the manual and don't let anyone in to play with it. . That is why i mentioned the padlock lug.

Best of luck with it Dean .

[samuijimmy]

Solenoids.... ah yes! that word had left my brain, I was trying to recall what they were called! Thanks Xen!

The other problem Dean will have is calculating how many sprinklers can run with the water pressure available....

How many zones is the timer capable of running? Each zone will need a Solenoid.... Water pressure will determine how many sprinklers can be run off one zone.... One less sprinkler head is better than one too many!

Is the water pressure consistent???.... so many factors to consider here.... from size of underground pipe, 3/4" or 1/2" (I always preferred 3/4", but it depends on distance & water pressure again! ) .....& distance between sprinkler heads..... there should be an over lap of spray..... at least 1/3..... Will the sprinklers go full circle or part circle?

Sometimes these "time saving" devises make life more difficult... but I have neighbours here, who have set these things up, & they seem to work.... but it is a "cash out lay" to get it done correctly to start with...

I don't have the water pressure to attempt this for my garden, but have neighbour kids willing to water for a few baht, but the more the plants mature the less watering they need (deeper roots! ) Lawns & beds should be separate, in theory at least.....

If the rain holds off today, I will try to go look what the neighbours have for their system.....

Details Dean!.... we need more details! Jim